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https://archive.org/details/somegoodbrickworOOfisk 


INTRODUCTION 


O Dl'.TAIl.  ot  A nierican  architecture  is  changing  more 
rapidly  at  the  present  time  than  its  tiice  hrickwork. 

d'he  smooth,  ev'en  colored  wall  ot  hvgone  days,  with 
its  narrow  regular  nun-tar  joints,  giving  the  so-called 
“paint  pot  etiect,”  is  passing  away  and  hrickwork  with 
“lite”  and  “texture”  is  rapidly  coming  into  use. 

I'o  secure  these  important  effects,  the  individual  bricks 
must  have  elements  ot  ruggedness  and  texture,  must 
vary  considerably  in  shade,  and  must  be  laid  in  some 
interesting  style  ot  true  bond  with  liberal  mortar  joints 
ot  the  proper  thickness,  color  and  finish. 

d'o  satisfactoriK'  study  all  these  points,  w-e  believe  the  architect  should  have  betore 
him  samples  ot  actual  brickwork,  real  bricks  laid  up  whth  real  mortar,  with  a real 
bond,  in  sufficient  mass  to  give  the  effect  of  the  finished  wall. 

We  have,  therefore,  prepared  for  the  inspection  of  architects  and  their  clients 
what  is  belie\'ed  to  be  the  first  and  only  comprehensi\'e  exhibit  of  brickwork  in 
existence.  This  is  partly  in  the  form  ot  stationary  panels  in  our  Boston  and  New 
York  offices  and  partly  in  the  torm  ot  portable  cases  containing  brickwork,  all  of 
which  possess  the  elements  ot  “life”  and  “texture.” 

It  is  true  that  this  is  a radical  departure  from  the  methods  heretotore  employed 
by  brick  manutacturers  in  the  marketing  ot  their  products,  but  we  believe  that 
the  architects  of  the  country  will  appreciate  something  better  ami  more  compre- 
hensive than  the  single  sample  brick  which  is  often  misleading  and  w'hich  can 
never  convey  an  adequate  idea  ot  a brick  wall. 

The  subject  of  this  pamphlet  is  therefore  not  bricks  but  brickwork. 

No  pictures  or  printed  matter  can  satisfactorily  represent  these  exhibits,  as  beautitul 
brickwork,  like  the  artist’s  masterpiece,  is  largely  a matter  ot  color,  but  the  tol- 
lowing  pages  will  convey  some  idea  ot  our  work  and  w'e  trust  wall  induce  our 
friends  to  visit  us  and  see  the  exhibits  for  themselves. 

Wh  ere  distance  makes  this  impossible,  w'e  are  prepared  to  send  our  large  portable 
cases  ot  brickwork  toryour  inspection  or  to  send  a set  of  our  small  cases  as  a per- 
manent exhibit  in  your  own  office. 


II^ISKE  6-  COMPANY  INC 

Iace  bricks;  establish 

liRE  BRICKSl  ED  IN  1064 


BOSTON  OFFICE  NEW  YORK  OFHCE  ROCHESTER  OFFICE  SCHENECTADY  OFFICE 
J6I  Devonshire  St.  Flatiron  Building  German  Ins.  Bldg.  Myers’  Arcade 

Representatives  in 

BUFFALO  PHILADELPHIA  BALTIMORE  WASHINGTON 


“REAL  ROMAN  TAPESTRY”  BRICKS 

'I  liis  is  the  first  attempt,  in  America  at  least,  to  produce  a brick  of  the  length, 
thickness  and  texture  of  those  used  in  the  construction  of  ancient  Borne.  In  the 
Baths  of  I'itus,  luiilt  about  the  vear  A.  I).  So  will  be  found  today  bricks  having 
surfaces  almost  exactU'  like  those  in  the  picture  above.  W'e  have  therefore  styled 
this  brick  the  “Real  Roman”  and  append  hereto  a technical  description  of  this 
brickwork. 

COLOR  Ob  BRICKS:  I hese  bricks  are  best  served  in  the  most  extreme 
range  of  color  possible,  including  clear  reds,  browns,  coppers  and  blues.  Hardly 
any  two  bricks  are  exactly  alike;  some  are  clear  red,  some  clear  blue,  while  many 
have  all  colors  on  a single  brick,  d'he  various  colors  should  be  laid  at  random. 
SIZE  Ob'  BRICKS:  Approximately  17^  inches  long  by  1 j/2  inches  thick  by 
5j/  inches  wide.  They  are  also  served  in  a size  ]Hx2x6  inches  and  in  a 
smaller  size,  9x2x4  inches;  the  large  and  small  bricks  can  be  used  together 
to  produce  an  almost  infinite  variety  of  plain  and  pattern  brickwork, 
l EX  rCRE  Ob  BRICKS:  See  the  cut  on  the  opposite  page.  d hese  bricks 
have  a rough  nap-like  surface,  absorbing  the  light  and  having  that  depth  and  rich- 
ness of  color  peculiar  to  tapestries  and  other  rough  surface  textile  products;  at  the 
same  time  the  bricks  are  absolutelv  frost  proof,  being  made  of  shale,  burned  to 
vitrification. 

BOND  OF  BRICKWORK  : Alternate  stretchers  and  headers. 

MORTAR  JOINIS:  See  the  opposite  page. 

[^] 


SUbL  9 Kut.itcnor 


DETAIL  OF  TEXTURE  AND  MORTAR  JOINTS 

MC^RIAR  JOIN  rS:  A brick  with  “texture”  looks  good  when  laid  with  a 
mortar  joint  havinn  “texture”  also.  The  joint  shown  above  is  made  ot  a fine 
concrete  mixture  having  the  following  composition: 

4 barrels  of  fine  gravel, 

2 barrels  of  yellow  sand, 

I barrel  of  Portland  cement, 

4 eight-quart  pails  of  lime  putty. 

This  mortar  is  strong  and  absolutely  weather  proof  and  the  bricks  may  be  laid 
almost  as  rapidly  as  with  ordinary  mortar;  it  is  quite  unnecessary  to  use  any 
blocking  to  hold  the  bricks  up  while  the  mortar  is  setting  provided  the  mixture  is 
made  of  proper  stiffness,  d'he  mortar  is  spread  with  the  trowel  and  the  bricks 
are  tapped  down  to  the  line  in  the  ordinary  way;  the  surplus  mortar  which  oozes 
out  between  the  bricks  is  allowed  to  stiffen  slightly  and  is  then  simply  cut  off 
with  the  trowel,  thereby  producing  the  beautiful  texture  showm  above. 

S To  secure  perfect  work  under  varying  conditions  much  attention  must  be  given  to 

the  size  and  color  ot  the  gravel  and  sand,  the  amount  of  lime  and  to  the  mixing 
and  handling  of  the  mortar;  much  fine  brickwork  is  ruined  by  carelessness  at  the 
mortar  bed.  We  are  prepared  to  assist  architects  in  drawing  their  specifications 
and  will  furnish  a competent  superintendent  to  “start  the  job  off  ” if  desired. 

[3] 


424830 


“ORIENTAL”  BRICKS. 

COLOR  OI'  BRICKS:  A mixture  ot  dark  red,  brown,  bronze,  purple,  wine 
color  and  olive  (including  colors  heretofore  unknown  in  brick  manutacture. ) 

SIZE  OF  BRICKS:  Approximately,  8 inches  long  bv  i inches  thick  by  3 
inches  wide. 

I'E-XELRE  OF  BRICKS:  Rough,  with  a nap,  like  tapestry. 

BOND  OF  BRICKWORK  : American  blind  bond. 

MO R FAR  JOINTS  : Pink,  inch  thick,  rough  cut,  flush  with  the  face  of  the 
brickwork. 

GENFR.A.L  EFFFX  F;  Like  a Turkish  rug  with  soft,  rich,  subdued  colors. 

FURl'HF.R  SUGGESTIONS  : These  bricks  may  be  very  effectively  used  with 
brown  mortar,  or  with  moss  green,  the  latter  blending  most  beautifully  with  their 
colors.  For  a country  house  surrounded  by  green  trees  and  bright  flowers,  with  the 
blue  sky  overhead,  no  finer  combination  can  be  realized. 


[4] 


“WEST  POINT”  BRICKS 


COLOR  OF  BRICKS:  Cream  white,  ivory, light  brown  and  dark  seal  brown, 
evenly  mixed  in  the  wall. 

SIZE  OF  BRICKS:  Approximately  8^  inches  long  by  inches  thick  by  4 
inches  wide. 


TEXTURE  OF  BRICKS:  Rough,  with  a nap,  like  tapestry. 


BOND  OF  BRICKWORK:  Flemish  bond. 


MOKTAR  JOINTS:  Cream  white,  inch  thick,  raked  out  Y 
deep. 


GENERAL  EFFECT:  At  a distance,  a wall  of  these  bricks  looks  like  a piece 
of  ivory,  softened  and  mellowed  by  exposure  and  old  age. 

[5] 


“CALEDONIAN”  BRICKS 


COLOR  OK  BRICKS:  'I'hese  hricks  are  manuflictured  in  ten  colors  or  shades 
including  clear  light  red,  dark  Indian  red,  light  and  dark  hrovvn,  weathered 
copper  and  Blue:  the  faces  of  the  intermediate  shades  have  red  centres  edged 
with  brown,  copper  and  blue;  the  heads  are  usually  somewhat  darker  than  the 
faces.  These  bricks  can  be  served  in  substantially  uniform  shades,  but  a full 
range  of  color  adds  greatlv  to  the  interest  and  beauty  of  the  finished  wall, 
particularly  where  blemish,  English  or  Dutch  bond  is  used. 

SIZE  OK  BRICKS:  Approximately  8 inches  long  by  i%  inches  thick  by 
3^  inches  wide. 

TEXd'LRE  OK  BRICKS:  Rough,  with  a nap,  like  tapestry. 

BOND  OK  BRICKWORK:  American  blind  bond. 

MOR'KAR  JOINTS:  White,  yi  inch  thick,  raked  out  inch  deep. 


ORIENTAL”  BRICKS 


COLOR  O!^'  BRICKS:  A mixture  of  dark  red,  brown,  bronze,  purple,  wine 
color  and  olive  (including  colors  heretofore  unknown  in  brick  manufacture.) 

SIZif  OF  BRICKS:  Approximately,  8 ^ inches  long  by  i inches  thick  by  j ^ 
inches  wide. 

I'LXrLIRE  OF  BRICKS:  Rough,  with  a nap,  like  tapestry. 

BOND  OF  BRICKWORK:  Double  stretcher,  Flemish  bond. 

MOR  FAR  JOIN  I S : Light  gray,  iy(  inches  thick,  rough  cut,  flush  with  the 
face  of  the  brickwork;  blind  joints  brown,  ^ inch  thick. 

(ibNLRAL  F.FFF.CT:  A wall  of  this  brickwork  has  all  the  charm  of  age, 
with  the  soft  subdued  colors,  and  the  richness  and  depth  of  tone  which  usually 
come  to  good  brickwork  only  after  years  of  exposure  to  the  weather.  This 
effect  can  be  increased  by  making  the  color  of  the  mortar  joint  somewhat  darker 
than  that  shown  above. 

[7] 


NINE  INCH  “WEST  POINT”  BRICKS 

COLOR  OF  BRICKS:  Cream  white,  ivorv,  light  brown  and  dark  seal  brown, 
evenly  mixed  in  the  wall. 

SIZE  OF  BRICKS:  Approximately  9}^  inches  long  by  2 inches  thick  by 
4 inches  wide. 

riyXl'L’Rb.  OF  BRICKS:  Rough,  with  a nap,  like  tapestry. 

BOND  OF  BRICKWORK:  Double  stretcher,  Flemish  bond. 

MORTAR  lOIXTS:  Coarse  cream  white.  Horizontal  joints  1 inch  thick; 
vertical  joints,  alternately  i inch  and  inch  thick.  Joints  rough  cut  Hush  with 
the  lace  ol  the  brickwork. 

GFiNERAL  EFFECT : Like  a piece  of  old  ivory,  softened  and  mellowed  by 
age  and  exposure. 

[«J 


CALEDONIAN”  BRICKS 


COLOR  OF  BRICKS:  Reds,  browns,  coppers  and  blues  as  described  more 
tully  on  Rage  6. 


SIZE  OF  BRICKS:  Approximately  8 inches  long  by  inches  thick  by 
inches  wide. 

d'EXl’URK  OF  BRICKS:  Rough,  with  a nap,  like  tapestry. 

BOND  OF  BRICKWORK:  Flemish  bond. 

MORl'AR  JOINTS:  White,  inch  thick,  struck  flush  with  the  face  of 
the  wall. 

[9] 


“CALEDONIAN"  BRICKS 


COLOR  Ob'  BRICKS:  Reds,  lirowns,  coppers  and  blues  as  described  more 
fully  on  Rage  6. 


SIZE  OF  BRICKS:  Approximately  8 inches  long  by  inches  thick  by 
3^  inches  wide. 


TEXTURE  OF  BRICKS:  Rough,  with  a nap,  like  tapestry. 
BOND  OF  BRICKWORK:  Double  stretcher,  Flemish  bond. 


MORTAR  JOINTS:  Black,  inch  thick,  slightly  raked  out. 


[.0] 


ONE  OF  OUR  OFFICE  EXHIBITS  OF  BRICKWORK 


In  our  New  York  office  our  exhibit  consists  of 
20  large  panels  containing 
i8  different  colors  of  bricks, 

7 distinct  surface  textures, 

5 stvdes  of  standard  bonds, 

5 colors  of  mortar  joints  of  varying  thickness, 

5 styles  of  finishing  the  mortar  joints. 

We  ha\'e  a workshop  adjoining  this  office  with  a skilled  bricklayer  at  our 
command  to  lay  up  samples  “While  you  wait,”  in  any  desired  style  of  mortar 
joint  or  bond. 

[•'] 


PORTABLE  BRICKWALL” 


It  may  be  inconvenient  tor  an  architect  or  his  client  to  visit  our  offices  or  he  may 
desire  to  studv  sev^eral  ditterent  samples  ot  brickwork  at  the  site  of  the  proposed 
building  in  order  that  the  effect  of  environment  may  be  given  its  due 
consideration. 


If  for  these  or  any  other  reasons  he  cannot  make  use  of  our  office  exhibits  we 
are  prepared  to  send  him  one  or  all  of  our  twentv-five  “ Portable  Brickwalls” 
illustrated  above. 


Each  case  contains  a sufficient  number  of  bricks  laid  up  in  actual  mortar  to 
satisfactorily  represent  the  finished  wall  and  the  entire  exhibit  includes  all  of  our 
leading  colors,  textures,  bonds  and  mortar  joints. 


[12] 


SMALL  BRICK  CASES 


'I'hese  cases  are  sent  to  architects  and  builders,  upon  request,  as  permanent  exhibits 
in  their  own  offices. 

They  are  necessarily  of  small  size,  but  contain  about  6 or  more  bricks  laid  in 
mortar  and  are  therefore  far  more  comprehensive  than  the  single  sample  or  loose 
samples  heretofore  used. 

We  furnish  samples  of  any  of  our  bricks  laid  in  these  cases  with  anv  ordinary 
bond  or  mortar  ioint. 

[‘3] 


A GLIMPSE  OF  SOME  GOOD  BRICKWORK 


Detail  ol  Residence  of  Hon.  John  R.  McLean,  Washington,  1).  C. 

John  Russell  I^ope  Architect;  Geo.  A.  Fuller  Co.  Contractors. 

0«r  “ORI ENTAL”  BRICKS  laid  with  \ inch  gray  mortar  joints,  rough 
cut  flush  with  the  face  of  the  wall  ; double  stretcher,  Flemish  bond  with 
blind  joints  between  adjacent  stretchers.  See  Page  7. 


[H] 


Another  detail  of  the 
of  plain  bricks  and 
bricklayer. 


same  building  showing 
mortar  in  the  hands 


the  wonderful  decorative  possibilities 
of  a clever  architect  and  a skillful 


[15] 


ZJISKE  6-  COMPANY  INC 
ACE  BRICKS  / ESTABLISH 
JRE  BRICKS!  ED  IN  1064 


[.6] 


. . . Printed  by  .... 
F.  \V  Robinson  Co. 
I Madison  Avc.,  Sew  )'ori 


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